-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A 50-year-old man accused of strapping a suspected explosive device around the neck of an 18-year-old woman near Sydney , Australia , earlier this month was arrested Monday more than 9,000 miles away , Australian law enforcement officials said .

`` The offender in this matter has been identified , and it 's been confirmed that he traveled to the United States , '' New South Wales police commissioner Andrew Scipione told reporters .

Police said that a man broke into the Mosman , Australia , home of the woman , later identified as Madeleine Pulver , on August 3 and attached what she then believed to be a bomb . The woman spent 10 hours attached to the device before having it removed by police bomb technicians . Authorities later determined it had been inert .

The case subsequently drew intense media attention in Australia , and prompted police to launch an extensive investigation .

That probe led to the arrest of the suspect around 3:30 p.m. EST -LRB- 5:30 a.m. Tuesday in Sydney -RRB- in Louisville , Kentucky , by FBI agents working `` very , very closely '' with their Australian counterparts , said Scipione .

`` The information that I have is that the suspect was surprised '' to be arrested , said Assistant Commissioner David Hudson .

Australian police did not name the man arrested , noting that he has n't been formally charged . But Hudson said that he is an Australian citizen who frequently traveled to the United States on business . He 'd been in Sydney , which is his primary place of residence , for six weeks before flying to the United States on August 8 , said Hudson .

Hudson said that the man taken into custody was not yet a suspect when he went overseas . But `` a fairly detailed chain of circumstantial evidence '' -- including a description from the victim , even though the alleged assailant was `` heavily disguised '' -- ultimately led them to the United States and the arrest .

There were `` some links between the suspect and the family , however no direct links , '' said the assistant commissioner , though he declined to elaborate , citing the ongoing investigation .

The suspect is expected to be arraigned Tuesday morning in a U.S. court , said Hudson . Australian authorities plan to seek his extradition back across the Pacific Ocean .

The alleged crime occurred in Mosman , a wealthy suburb about eight kilometers -LRB- five miles -RRB- from Sydney where many well-connected people , sports stars and celebrities live , resident and Australian news reporter Dave Kirwan told CNN .

When the alarm was first raised , he said , many residents locked themselves in their homes fearing they might also be in danger .

`` This kind of thing does n't really happen here , '' Kirwan said at the time .

Speaking on what was Tuesday morning in Australia , Scipione thanked the Pulver family , as well as investigators in both Australia and the United States , for overcoming several challenges to find the person they believe was behind this `` hideous crime . ''

`` The motto for -LRB- the New South Wales police force -RRB- simply says , translated , ` Justice swiftly follows crime , ' '' said Scipione . `` You 've seen that today . ''

@highlight

NEW : The suspect `` was surprised '' to be arrested 9,000 miles away , an official says

@highlight

NEW : He is an Australian citizen , 50 , who often traveled to the U.S. , the official adds

@highlight

Police say the man strapped a suspected collar bomb on a woman , 18 , near Sydney

@highlight

The teen spent 10 hours attached to the device , which ended up being inert